Jeanie Buss ousted as Lakers president?

Lakers President Jeanie Buss. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Jeanie Buss thwarted an effort by her brothers, Jim and Johnny, that could oust her as the Lakers’ president and controlling owner as the behind-the-scenes battle for control of the franchise moved into the courtroom on Friday.

Attorneys for Jeanie Buss sought a temporary restraining order in Los Angeles County Superior Court to prevent the brothers from holding a meeting next week to elect a new board of directors for the team.

The brothers proposed four directors, according to court records, but didn’t include her. In order to be the controlling owner, she has to be a director.

“This is no doubt the beginning and not the end of the game-playing,” said Adam Streisand, the attorney for Jeanie Buss. “They don’t have a legal leg to stand on. This is a legal strategy doomed for failure.”

The brothers cancelled the meeting and signed a document late Thursday reelecting Jeanie Buss as controlling owner. Streisand questioned the validity of the document and doesn’t believe the larger issue has been resolved. Her attorneys withdrew the motion for a restraining order during a hearing in court Friday.

“Both Jim Buss and Johnny Buss had hoped that any issues would be handled within the family,” said Robert Sacks, an attorney for the brothers.

Sacks disputed that the brothers were doing anything to thwart Jeanie Buss and said she “inexplicably rushed to court.”

He added: “There are no issues.”

Jeanie Buss declined comment because of the ongoing litigation; Jim Buss didn’t return a message seeking comment.

Two weeks ago, Jeanie Buss removed Jim Buss from his role as Lakers vice president of basketball operations as part of wide-ranging changes that included naming Magic Johnson president of basketball operations. Johnny Buss oversees corporate development for the Lakers. He notified his sister of the meeting three days after the shakeup, according to court documents.

“An injunction is necessary to prevent irreparable injury to the Lakers,” the court filing said. “A new Controlling Owner would have the power to make changes that could cause serious and irreversible damage to the Lakers basketball team and to the brand, particularly at this key juncture when Petitioner has taken significant steps to attempt to reverse the harm done by Jim.”

The court documents said the move by the brothers is “motivated as retaliation.”Streisand, who represented Steve Ballmer during the court fight with Donald Sterling in 2014 over the $2-billion sale of the Clippers, doesn’t expect the effort to be successful, but warned of the consequences if they gained control of the team.

“Everything she’s trying to do could be undone,” Streisand said.

Jeanie Buss took control of the franchise on the death of her father, Jerry Buss, in 2013.

The family trust that controls the team can elect three of the board’s five members. It mandates that the co-trustees — Johnny and Jim — take all actions to ensure Jeanie Buss remains controlling owner of the Lakers.

"Jeanie Buss is the sole Governor of the Los Angeles Lakers and under league rules, she has control over the team," NBA spokesman Mike Bass said. "She has not only been a terrific leader for the Lakers organization, guiding the business before and after her father's passing, but an incredibly influential voice among all our team owners."

A probate court trial to resolve the matter is scheduled for May 15.

(Article by Nathan Fenno and Bill Plaschke of LA Times)

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